Motorized pack carrier



June 2, 1964 M. J. BERTozzl, SR

MOTORIZED PACK CARRIER Filed Dec. ll, 1962 United States Patent() 3,135,346 MTURIZED PACK CARRERE Marco .1. Bertozzi, Sr., 752 Terra Bella Ave., Mountain View, Caiif. Filed Dec. 11, 1962, Ser. No. 243,914 3 Claims. (Cl. M50-19) "ice sections 13 that are welded, or otherwise secured to the members 10. Moreovenupperihorizontal tubes 14 are arranged to extend between the members and are secured thereto, while lower horizontal tubes 15 are secured tothe side frames ,12 to extend'the'rebetween. As shown in FIGURE 1, screens 16 are fastened to the curved sections 13 and to the tubes 14 and 15. ,Y Longitudinal bars 17 are disposed in the bottomofthe basket and are supported by transverse bars 18 that are secured to the side frames 12. Also, spaced bars 19 are secured to the members 10 and the side frames 12. Of course, the basket B may be fashioned with any suitable construction that will carry a load, and I do not wish to be limited to the details just described. v

It will be noted that a vmotorized unit designated generally at D is disposed under the stretcher Afor supporting 1 thelatter. This motorized unit has a pair, of side frames motorized pack carrier is not to be limited in this respect.

the stretcher forY supporting' the latter, whereby the pack Vcarrier'mayrbe advanced over the ground.'`

Another object of the invention is to provide a motorized pack carrier in which the stretcher is swingably connected` to the frame of the motorizedl unit for swinging about a'substantially horizontal journal rod, whereby the handle bars may be moved freely up and down'as the individuals walk, without the motorized unit` causing the handle barsV to be thrown up and down as the pack` arrier isadvanced `over uneven ground. y

A` still further object of the invention'is to arrange the motorized unit so that it may be steered by the i stretcher, with the motorized unit following the direction imparted to thestretcher by the individuals, for instance, when advancing along a winding trail.

Other object'sand advantages will appear as the specification proceeds. The novel features of the invention will be set forth inthe appended claims.

' Drawing For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specicatiom in which:

FIGURE 1 is atop plan view of my'motorized pack carrier;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof; and

FIGURE 3V is a transverse sectional view taken along the vertical plane 3"-3 of FIGURE 2.

WhileI havel shown only the preferred formof my` invention, it should be understood `that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the `scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed Description i handle bars are spaced apart so that'the individuals may take up positions therebetween and are disposed above the ground C at a height so as to be conveniently grasped by the individuals.

As to the basket B, it has a pair of side frames 12 at its bottom, the opposite ends of which have upwardly-curved 2t) which are arranged in` spaced parallel relation' with one another. These frames are supported by a'pair of ground-engaging wheels 21 and 22, one of which is a leading wheel andthe other a trailingwheel, depending upon the direction in which the motorized unit is moved.

With particular reference to the wheel'21, it is arranged to have its axle 23 secured to a pair of brackets 24 that are fixed to the frames 20 of the motorized unit D, with this wheel being disposed between the brackets.` As illustrated'in FIGURE 2, a motor'E is operatively connected tothe wheel 21 for driving this wheel to advance the motorized unit over the ground. For this purpose, the

motor E is provided with a drive sprocket 25 that is connected by a chain 26 to a driven sprocket 27 fixed to a countershaft 28. The latter has ardrive sprocket 29 fixed thereto, which is connected by aV chain 30 to a driven Y sprocket 31 secured to the wheel 21 for driving the latter in a direction to advance the motorized unit B vand the stretcher A along a selected course.

Itwill be observed that the wheel 22 is a dolly wheel which is mounted for swinging laterally about an upwardly extending axis defined by a shaft 32. The latter is rotatably supported in a bearing tube 33, or the like, iixed to the frames 2t), whereby the dolly wheel may swivel as the motorized unit is advanced over a turning course. When the driven wheel 21'is disposed at the leading end of `the motorized unit D, the dolly wheel 22 will occupy a trailing location shown by full lines in FIGURE 2, and at this time the carrier may be advanced toward the right in this view. However, the dolly wheel 22 may be located at the leading end of the motorized unit, and the dolly i wheel will occupy the dot-dash line position shown in FIG- URE 2 when the carrier is advanced to the left in FIGURE 2. For this reason, the dolly wheel is mounted for swinging in a complete circle about the axis of the shaft 32.

Of course, the motor E may be arranged to move the motorized unit in either direction.

As an important structural feature, the stretcher A is swingably connected to the frames 20 of the motorized unit D for swinging about a substantially horizontal journal rod 34, whereby the'handle bars 11 may be moved freely up and down as the vindividuals walk, without the motorized unit causing the handle bars to be thrown up and down, while the wheels 21 and'` 22 remain in contact with uneven ground. It will be seen that this journal rod extends through apertured brackets 35 iixed to the tops of the side frames'20 of the motorized unit and further extend through apertured 'brackets 36 fixed to and depending from the side frames 12 of the j basket B, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

i Thus the journal rod 34 is connected to the stretcher A and the frames 20 so as to steer the motorized unit D, with the latter following the direction imparted to the stretcher by the individuals grasping the handle bars 11, as the pack carrier is advanced along a winding course.

Accordingly, the individuals may steady the stretcher and move in a selected course of travel, and the motorized unit D will automatically follow the stretcher.

v It will be appreciated that an individual moves up and down to at least some degree during walking, and the handle bars 11 may thus swing about the horizontal journal rod 34, without effecting movement of the motorized unit D. Likewise, the motorized unit may move about the journal rod 34 so that both wheels 21 and 22 will remain on the ground C, without resulting in any swinging of the stretcher. The dolly wheel 22 may swivel as the motorized unit moves over a selected course.

As shown in FIGURE 2, a flexible strap 37, or the like, interconnects the stretcher A and the frames 20 of the motorized unit D to limit downward swinging of these frames about the journal rod 34, whereby the wheels 21 and 22 may be lifted over an obstruction by the individuals raising the stretcher, or when lifting the carrier into or out of a truck.

In order to permit the handle bars 11 to be adjusted to a desired height above the ground C for convenient grasping by the individuals involved, these handle bars may be connected to the side members by hinge brackets 3S. The latter may be secured in adjusted position by tightening clamping bolts 39, or the like. Moreover, when the bolts are loosened, the handle bars l1 may be swung into folded position overlying the basket B, as suggested by dot-dash lines in FiGURE 2. This will reduce the overall length of the stretcher and provide a compact arrangement for transportation and storage.

Of course, the stretcher A and the motorized unit D should be held against lateral tipping, when the baskety B is being loaded or unloaded. For this reason, standards 40 are provided on opposite sides of the stretcher, these standards having their upper ends swingably attached by clamps 41 to the side members 10. Normally, the

standards are retained in raised position by spring clips 42, or the like, as disclosed in full lines in FIGURE 2. However, these standards may be swung downwardly,'as shown by dot-dash lines, until their outer ends 43 engage with the ground. At this time, the standards will provide firm support for the stretcher A and the motorized unit B. Of course, any suitable standards or other stand may be used for this purpose, and may be attached to any desired part of the stretcher or the motorized unit. However, by attaching the standards to the side members 10, a high support will be provided which will effect a rrn bracing against the basket and its load from tipping laterally.

It has been found during practical tests of my motorized pack carrier that it will materially assist the individuals in climbing up a steep slope, since they may grasp the handle bars and be pulled along by the motorized unit. Moreover, the pack carrier may be used in places where there are no trails and the terrain is considerably overgrown by brush.

I claim:

1. In a motorized pack carrier:

y (a) a stretcher provided with a basket for carrying a load;

(b) the stretcher having handle bars at the leading and trailing ends thereof, which may be grasped by individuals for steadying the stretcher and directing the latter along a selected course of travel;

(c) a motorized unit disposed under the stretcher for supporting the latter;

(d) the motorized unit having a frame supported by leading and trailing ground-engaging wheels;

(e) a motor operatively connected to one of the wheels for driving the latter to advance the motorized unit over the ground;

(f) the other wheel being a dolly wheel mounted for swinging through a complete circle about an upwardly entending axis, whereby the dolly wheel may swivel laterally as the motorized unit is advanced in either direction over a turning course;

(g) the stretcher being swingably connected to the frame of the motorized unit for limited free swinging movement of the stretcher about a substantially horizontal journal rod, whereby the handle bars may be moved freely up and down as the individuals Walk;

(h) and the motorizedr unit being freely movable for limited swinging movement about the journal rod so that both wheels will remain on and may be advanced over uneven ground, without the motorized unit causing the handle 4bars to be thrown up and down.v

2. The motorized pack carrier, as set forth in claim 1;

(i) and in which the journal rod is connected to the stretcher and frame of the motorized unit so that the stretcher may be used to steer the motorized unit and the latter will automatically follow the direction imparted to the stretcher by the individuals.

3. In a motorized pack carrier:

(a) a stretcher provided with a basket for carrying a load; f

(b) the stretcher having a pair of side members defining part of the basket and having handle bars at the leading and trailing ends thereof, which may be grasped by individuals for steadying the stretcher and directing the latter along a selected course of travel;

(c) the basket further having spaced side frames depending from said side members;

' (d) a motorized unit disposed under the stretcher for supporting the latter;

(e) the motorized unit having a pair of side frames arranged in spaced and substantially parallel relation with one another and supported by leading and trailing ground-engaging wheels;

(f) a motor operatively connected to one of the wheels for driving this wheel to advance the motorized unit over the ground; Y

(g) the other wheel being a dolly wheel mounted for swinging laterally about an upwardly extending axis, whereby the dolly wheel may swivel as the motorized unit is advanced over a turning course;

(h) a pair of apertured brackets lixed tothe tops of the side frames of the motorized unit, and a pair of apertured brackets xed to and depending from the side frames of the basket;

(i) a substantially horizontal journal rod extending through both pairs of apertured brackets for swingably connecting the stretcher to the motorized unit for limited free swinging movement of the stretcher about the journal rod, whereby the handle bars may be moved freely up and down as the individuals walk;

(j) the motorized unit benig freely movable for limited swinging movement about the journal rod so that both wheels will remain on and may be advanced over uneven ground, without the motorizedrunit causing the handle bars to be thrown up and down;

(k) and the journal rod and apertured brackets pro-l viding a connection between the stretcher and the motorized unit so that the stretcher may be used to steer the motorized unit and the latter will automatically follow the direction imparted to the stretcher by the individuals.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A MOTORIZED PACK CARRIER: (A) A STRETCHER PROVIDED WITH A BASKET FOR CARRYING A LOAD; (B) THE STRETCHER HAVING HANDLE BARS AT THE LEADING AND TRAILING ENDS THEREOF, WHICH MAY BE GRASPED BY INDIVIDUALS FOR STEADYING THE STRETCHER AND DIRECTING THE LATTER ALONG A SELECTED COURSE OF TRAVEL; (C) A MOTORIZED UNIT DISPOSED UNDER THE STRETCHER FOR SUPPORTING THE LATTER; (D) THE MOTORIZED UNIT HAVING A FRAME SUPPORTED BY LEADING AND TRAILING GROUND-ENGAGING WHEELS; (E) A MOTOR OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO ONE OF THE WHEELS FOR DRIVING THE LATTER TO ADVANCE THE MOTORIZED UNIT OVER THE GROUND; 